thin, pale floppy comb, then died

[Samuel T]

I have a large flock of different ages of chicken in the same cook (in different pens) but I have four rhode island red hens that are 4 years old, for the last 1ish months one of them has been getting skinny and would not try to walk away from me like the rest when i came near, she was slow and didnt lay many eggs, almost none! then here comb became droopy and pale, and today i found here dead under the roost, 2-3 months before 2 of my welsummers died and where in the same position under the roost dead, all different ages, but with the welsummers they seemed 100% healthy and fine, then in 3 days, they both died

 

[orloffer]

I am so sorry about your chickens! Unfortunately I do not have much knowledge about chicken ailments, but hopefully someone else will come along soon to help you.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a large flock of different ages of chicken in the same cook (in different pens) but I have four rhode island red hens that are 4 years old, for the last 1ish months one of them has been getting skinny and would not try to walk away from me like the rest when i came near, she was slow and didnt lay many eggs, almost none! then here comb became droopy and pale, and today i found here dead under the roost, 2-3 months before 2 of my welsummers died and where in the same position under the roost dead, all different ages, but with the welsummers they seemed 100% healthy and fine, then in 3 days, they both died

Welcome To BYC

I'm sorry to hear about your hen. Unfortunately the only way to know what really happened is to have a necropsy/testing. If you still have the body, then sending it to your state lab will give you some answers. You could also perform and informal investigation yourself looking at her reproductive system and major organs too see if you find anything like Peritonitis, cancer, fatty liver disease, etc.

I can look up your state lab for you if you will tell us what state you live in.

 

[333113]

Also, if you have seen any symptoms, you can try googling the symptoms with "Merck poultry" to get to the Merck veterinary manual online.

This can also be helpful if a vet gives you a diagnosis. I mean, it's helpful for me, since I am biology-terminology-challenged.

 

[Samuel T]

can the other chickens get it and die though?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

can the other chickens get it and die though?

Well, it depends on what "it" (the cause) is. This is why finding out what happened would be important. It may be something you can correct or it may be a condition that affects the individual and may look like something is spreading.